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| United States Patent |
6,062,272
|
|
Waite
|
May 16, 2000
|
Absorbent towel having quick-dry properties
Abstract
A pile towel construction having quick-dry properties and good absorption
characteristics is described. The towel includes a substantially
all-cotton pile and a ground fabric which includes moisture-transporting
polyester fibers. The towel desirably includes from about 10% to about 50%
moisture-transporting polyester fibers. In one embodiment of the
invention, the moisture-transporting fibers are provided in only one set
of the ground fabric-forming yarns, such as the weft, while the other set
of yarns forming the ground fabric is made from conventional polyester
and/or cotton. In another form of the invention, the ground fabric is
formed from substantially 100% moisture-transporting polyester fibers,
while the pile is substantially all-cotton.
| Inventors:
|
Waite; Carmen Lee (Charlotte, NC)
|
| Assignee:
|
Springs Industries, Inc. (Fort Mill, SC)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
835731 |
| Filed:
|
April 11, 1997 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
139/420A; 2/181; 2/237; 428/92; 428/93 |
| Intern'l Class: |
D03D 015/00; A42B 001/00; B32B 003/02 |
| Field of Search: |
139/420 A,391,392,396,404,25
428/78,93,13,92
604/378
2/237,181
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
| 3721274 | Mar., 1973 | Sherrill et al.
| |
| 4118529 | Oct., 1978 | Nakagawa et al.
| |
| 4724183 | Feb., 1988 | Heiman.
| |
| 4920000 | Apr., 1990 | Green.
| |
| 4984606 | Jan., 1991 | Moore et al.
| |
| 5084322 | Jan., 1992 | Brioschi et al.
| |
| 5187004 | Feb., 1993 | Risseeuw.
| |
| 5312667 | May., 1994 | Lumb et al.
| |
| 5336543 | Aug., 1994 | Pyle.
| |
| 5354815 | Oct., 1994 | Barringer, Jr. et al.
| |
| 5408012 | Apr., 1995 | Barringer, Jr.
| |
| 5495874 | Mar., 1996 | Heiman.
| |
Primary Examiner: Calvert; John J.
Assistant Examiner: Muromoto, Jr.; Robert H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Alston & Bird LLP
Claims
That which is claimed is:
1. A quick-drying woven pile towel comprising a set of substantially
parallel warp yarns and a set of substantially parallel weft yarns which
are selectively interlaced with said warp yarns to form a ground fabric,
and a plurality of pile yarns interlaced with the ground fabric and
extending outwardly from at least one surface thereof, wherein at least
one of said warp and weft yarn sets includes moisture-transporting
polyester fibers and said pile yarns comprise substantially 100% cotton
fibers, to thereby provide substantially the absorptiveness and feel of an
all-cotton towel, with quick-drying capabilities.
2. The towel according to claim 1, comprising at least about 10%
moisture-transporting polyester fibers.
3. The towel according to claim 2, wherein said towel comprises at least
about 14% moisture-transporting polyester fibers.
4. The towel according to claim 3, wherein said towel comprises at least
about 30% moisture-transporting polyester fibers.
5. The towel according to claim 2, wherein said ground fabric comprises
less than 100% moisture-transporting polyester fibers, and further
comprises fibers selected from the group consisting of cotton, polyester,
and combinations thereof.
6. The towel according to claim 1, wherein only one of said warp and weft
yarn sets includes moisture-transporting polyester fibers.
7. The towel according to claim 6, wherein said weft yarns comprise
moisture-transporting polyester fibers.
8. The towel according to claim 1, wherein each of said warp and weft yarn
sets comprises substantially all moisture-transporting polyester fibers.
9. The towel according to claim 1, wherein said set of ground warp yarns
comprises about 50% polyester and 50% cotton fibers, and said set of weft
yarns comprises substantially all moisture-transporting polyester fibers.
10. The towel according to claim 1, wherein said moisture-transporting
polyester fibers comprise polyester polymers having a polysiloxane with an
affinity for the polymer and a molecular weight greater than about 1000
g/mol bonded thereto.
11. The towel according to claim 1, wherein said moisture-transporting
polyester fibers comprise a polyester polymer having a hydrophilic
copolymer including the reaction product of a primary hydroxylate having
rewetting properties and a silane having an affinity for the polyester
polymer bonded to the polymer under conditions which provide bonding but
not polymerization between the two.
12. The towel according to claim 1, wherein said pile yarns are in the form
of terry loops.
13. A quick-drying, absorbent woven pile fabric comprising a ground fabric
defined by interwoven sets of warp and weft yarns and a plurality of
substantially all-cotton pile yarns interwoven with the ground fabric and
extending outwardly from at least one surface thereof in the form of terry
loops, wherein said ground fabric includes moisture-transporting polyester
fibers in a quantity sufficient to form at least about 10% of the overall
pile fabric structure, and wherein moisture absorbed by said terry loops
has a tendency to be transported across said ground fabric by way of said
moisture transporting polyester fibers.
14. The fabric according to claim 13, wherein said fabric comprises at
least about 14% moisture-transporting polyester fibers.
15. The fabric according to claim 14, wherein said fabric comprises about
30% moisture-transporting polyester fibers.
16. The fabric according to claim 13, wherein one of said warp and weft
yarn sets consists essentially of moisture-transporting fibers.
17. The fabric according to claim 13, wherein said ground fabric consists
essentially of moisture-transporting fibers.
18. The fabric according to claim 13, wherein said moisture-transporting
polyester fibers comprise polyester polymers having a polysiloxane with an
affinity for the polymer and a molecular weight greater than about 1000
g/mol bonded thereto.
19. The fabric according to claim 13, wherein only one of said warp and
weft yarn sets comprises moisture-transporting fibers.
20. The fabric according to claim 19, wherein said weft yarn set comprises
moisture-transporting fibers.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to an absorbent towel, and more
specifically, to an absorbent, pile towel construction having quick-drying
properties.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Towels are generally woven on looms to include a ground fabric and an extra
set of warp or filling yarns. The yarns of this extra set are interlaced
with the ground warp and filling yarns to form a plurality of loops or cut
ends which extend outwardly from one or both surfaces of the ground fabric
to form a pile. The ground fabric is typically a plain weave construction.
The various fiber or yarn inputs and/or the towel production process can
be varied in order to produce towels having varied styles, levels of
quality, patterns, and the like. For example, to achieve a towel having a
pattern, the yarns fed to form the ground fabric and/or pile can be varied
in color, luster, yarn size, etc., or the pile height can be varied in
selected areas. Similarly, to vary the level of towel quality, the quality
and size of the yarns woven can be varied, as well as the number of warp
and filling ends. Likewise, other features of the input materials, such as
the twist, type spun, etc., can be selected to determine the type of towel
produced.
Because towels are generally used to dry other objects, they are
customarily designed to be highly absorbent. To this end, towels have
historically been manufactured from all or substantially all cotton yarns.
While cotton has been found to be advantageous in many respects (i.e., it
is absorbent, relatively durable, and generally available), it also
presents several drawbacks. For one, cotton tends to shrink when exposed
while wet to high temperatures such as those of a conventional hot dryer.
In addition, while cotton is a good moisture absorber, it is less inclined
to release the absorbed moisture. As a result, the drying time for cotton
towels tends to be relatively long, and the thicker the yarns which are
used to form the towels, the longer it typically takes them to dry. This
slow drying is disadvantageous in several respects: not only does it
result in increases in time between the instances when the towels can be
used, but the slow drying encourages souring and mildew of the towels.
Thus, consumers are often forced to buy towels which are less plush than
they would prefer from an aesthetic (i.e., look and feel) perspective, in
order to obtain a towel which will dry suitably quickly.
Various modifications to conventional 100% cotton pile towel constructions
have been proposed to combat the problems associated with shrinkage. One
such proposal is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,721,274 to Sherrill, et al.,
which describes a towel construction with a reduced tendency to shrink.
The towel has a base of interwoven sets of ground warp and filling yarns,
with at least one of the sets of ground yarns being formed of a blend of
cellulosic and 35-65% polyester fibers. Because the inclusion of the
polyester reduces the absorbency of the fabric, in the preferred
embodiment of the invention, the terry yarns forming one of the towel
surfaces are absorbent rayon yarns, which are intended to make up for the
absorbency loss caused by the inclusion of the polyester in the ground
fabric.
Other commercially available towels include a percentage of polyester
fibers in the ground fabric in order to reduce the tendency of the towel
to shrink when convection dried. The percentage is generally limited to
about 14% or less of polyester in the ground fabric, since amounts greater
than that tend to adversely affect the absorbency of the towel.
One known commercial attempt to produce a towel having quick-drying
capabilities is sold under the tradename AQUIS.RTM. and is manufactured by
Teijin, Ltd. of Japan. This product is a flat weave double cloth which is
made from a blend of wickable nylon fibers and polyester fibers. Because
the towel does not contain cotton pile yarns, the comfort and "feel"
properties generally associated with all-cotton towels are not provided.
This product is extremely expensive to manufacture currently and is only
used as a small hair towel.
Thus, a need exists for a towel which has a high rate of absorbency, quick
drying capabilities, and a comfortable feel to a user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With the foregoing in mind, it is therefore an object of the present
invention to provide a towel construction having a high degree of
absorption and quick-drying capabilities.
It is a further object to provide a towel construction having the
appearance and comfort typically associated with conventional all-cotton
towels.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a towel
construction having a high degree of absorption and quick-drying
capabilities, and which can be manufactured using only a minimal number of
production steps.
These and other objects are achieved by a towel construction having a
ground fabric and a plurality of pile yarns extending outwardly from at
least one surface of the ground fabric, and with the ground fabric
comprising moisture-transporting polyester fibers. For purposes of the
instant invention, the term "moisture-transporting polyester fibers" is
used to describe those fibers having the ability to facilitate
electrostatic movement of water molecules. In other words, such fibers
have the ability to "excite" water molecules and transport them from one
location to another. Examples of moisture-transporting polyester fibers
which can be used in the invention are described in U.S. Pat. No.
5,354,815 to Barringer, Jr., et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,012 to
Barringer, Jr., both of which are incorporated herein by reference. Such
fibers are generally used primarily for thermal insulative purposes.
In one form of the invention, the moisture-transporting polyester fibers
can comprise polyester polymers having a hydrophilic polysiloxane with an
affinity for the polymer and a molecular weight greater than about 1000
g/mol bonded thereto. More specifically, a polyester polymer is desirably
contacted with an aqueous treatment bath containing a hydrophilic
polysiloxane under conditions which bond the polymer with the hydrophilic
polysiloxane while avoiding polymerization of the polyester polymer with
the hydrophilic polysiloxane, or the hydrophilic polysiloxane can be added
in powder form to a polyester polymer melt. Alternatively, a hydrophilic
copolymer comprising the reaction product of a primary hydroxylate having
rewetting properties and a silane which has an affinity for the polyester
polymer can be bonded to the polymer under conditions which provide
bonding but not polymerization between the two. Such fibers are known to
have increased hydrophilicity and thermal regulative properties over
conventional untreated polyester fibers. However, such polyester fibers
would generally not be expected to be as absorbent as cotton fibers. Thus,
while such fibers have achieved niche uses in the thermal regulative
environments, their use has not heretofore been appreciated in the
absorbent articles market, due in part to the commercial acceptability and
availability of known absorbent fibers such as cotton.
Surprisingly, however, it has been discovered that by utilizing such
moisture-transporting fibers in the ground fabric of a cotton pile fabric
construction, superior fabric drying can be achieved without a significant
loss in towel absorption properties from that of a substantially
all-cotton towel. Because the moisture transporting fibers are generally
less absorbent than cotton fibers, one would expect substantially the same
results through their use as would be obtained with conventional untreated
polyester fibers. Unexpectedly, it has been found that when the
moisture-transporting fibers are incorporated in the ground fabric of a
substantially all-cotton pile fabric in the manner discussed further
herein, the fibers serve to transport moisture absorbed by the pile across
the width of the fabric. As a result, the ability of the cotton pile yarns
to continue to absorb moisture is increased since they have less of a
tendency to remain saturated. Because the ground fabric disperses the
water as described rather than allowing it to be concentrated it in the
area where it was absorbed, it has been found that such fabrics dry
substantially quicker than those having all-cotton or polyester/cotton
blended ground fabrics. Thus, the synergistic effect of the described
combination of the moisture-transporting fibers with cotton yarns results
in the formation of towels having an all-cotton feel while having
quick-drying capabilities.
In one embodiment of the invention, the moisture-transporting fibers are
provided in only one of the yarn sets forming the ground fabric (i.e., the
warp or the weft), while in another embodiment of the invention, yarns in
each of the warp and weft yarn sets are of the moisture-transporting
variety. In each of these forms of the invention, the pile is
substantially all-cotton, so that the "feel" and appearance of an
all-cotton towel is provided. The moisture-transporting yarns generally
form from about 10% to about 50% of the overall fiber content of the
towel, and preferably from about 14% to about 30% thereof. This ability to
incorporate such a high percentage of the moisture-transporting polyester
fibers is particularly surprising since, as discussed above, the use of
greater than 14% of conventional polyester fibers in the ground fabric of
a pile fabric construction generally has an extreme adverse effect on the
absorptability of the fabric, and thus is usually avoided.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent from the following detailed description.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The absorbent towel of the present invention has quick-drying capabilities
which are provided by incorporating moisture-transporting polyester fibers
into the ground fabric of a pile fabric construction.
As discussed above, conventional towels and pile fabrics for producing
towels and like articles generally include a woven ground fabric and a
plurality of pile yarns extending outwardly from the fabric. because the
towels are typically made from substantially all cotton fibers or to
include a small percentage of polyester in the ground fabric, moisture
absorbed by the pile yarns is transferred to underlying regions of the
ground fabric, where it remains until it is evaporated from the towel. As
a result, certain areas of a towel can be saturated or even
over-saturated, while other areas of the towel remain dry.
In contrast, the towels of the present invention, through the use of a
modified ground fabric construction, allow for the transport and
distribution of moisture across the width of the ground fabric, and
therefore across the width of the overall towel. Because the moisture is
spread across a greater surface area of the ground fabric (and thus
dispersed more thinly), it can be evaporated more quickly. As a result,
the towel can dry more quickly than conventional all- or substantially
all-cotton towels. (Though discussed specifically with respect to towels,
it is noted that the term "towel" is intended to cover a variety of pile
fabric articles, including but not limited to bath mats, wash cloths, dish
towels, hair drying towels, and the like.)
The towel according to the present invention includes a woven ground
fabric, which includes a set of warp yarns which are substantially
parallel to each other and a set of weft or filling yarns which are
substantially parallel to each other, with the warp and weft yarns being
substantially perpendicular to each other. The yarns of each of the
respective sets are periodically interlaced with the yarns of the other
set, to form a woven fabric. The woven fabric desirably is of a plain or
twill weave construction. A twill woven ground fabric is particularly
preferred because it tends to be more durable and absorbent than that of a
plain weave construction.
At least one of the sets of yarns forming the ground fabric (i.e., the warp
or the weft) includes moisture-transporting polyester fibers. Such fibers
are capable of "exciting" water molecules and wicking them from one
location to another. In a preferred form of the invention, the
moisture-transporting polyester fibers comprise polyester polymers having
a hydrophilic polysiloxane with affinity for the polymer and a molecular
weight greater than about 1000 g/mol bonded thereto. More specifically, a
polyester polymer is desirably contacted with an aqueous treatment bath
containing a hydrophilic polysiloxane under conditions which bond the
polymer with the hydrophilic polysiloxane while avoiding polymerization of
the polyester polymer with the hydrophilic polysiloxane. Alternatively,
the hydrophilic polysiloxane can be added in powder form to a polyester
polymer melt. Both of these methods are described in U.S. Pat. No.
5,354,815 to Barringer, Jr., et al. Alternatively, a hydrophilic copolymer
comprising the reaction product of a primary hydroxylate having rewetting
properties and a silane which has an affinity for the polyester polymer
can be bonded to the polymer under conditions which provide bonding but
not polymerization between the two.
In a particularly preferred form of the invention, one of the yarn sets
forming the ground fabric includes moisture-transporting polyester yarns
of the type sold under the tradename AKWATEK.RTM. by Comfort Technologies
Inc. of Gastonia, N.C. Such yarns are commonly used in a thermal
regulating capacity in apparel products. Because moisture-transporting
fibers useful in performing the instant invention are commercially
available in a substantially 100% moisture-transporting fiber yarn form
(e.g., AKWATEK.RTM. yarns), in a preferred form of the invention, at least
one of the ground fabric yarn sets (i.e., the warp or the weft) includes
one or more yarns made from substantially all moisture-transporting
fibers. In a particularly preferred form of the invention, both of the
ground yarn sets, i.e., the warp and the weft yarn sets, are woven from
yarns comprising substantially all moisture-transporting fibers, to
provide a ground fabric comprising substantially 100%
moisture-transporting fibers.
The towel also desirably includes a plurality of pile yarns extending
outwardly from at least one surface of the ground fabric. These pile yarns
are desirably formed as additional warp yarns interspersed between the
ground warps and interlaced with the weft yarns so as to be tied into the
ground fabric in a known manner. In a preferred form of the invention, the
pile yarns are in the form of terry loops; alternatively, the pile yarns
could be provided in the form of cut ends. Also in a preferred form of the
invention, the pile yarns extend from both faces of the ground fabric, to
form upper and lower pile faces on the towel.
The pile yarns are desirably substantially all cotton, in order that the
feel of the towel of the instant invention is substantially the same as
that of conventional all-cotton towels; alternatively, the pile yarns can
include small quantities of other fibers such as polyester or rayon. In
the event that the pile yarns are partially formed from fibers less
absorbent than cotton, a corresponding decrease in the absorbency of the
finished towel would be expected. Thus, a substantially all-cotton pile is
preferred in order that the feel and absorbency of an all-cotton towel is
obtained.
In one form of the invention, the towel includes at least about 10% of the
moisture-transporting polyester fibers, and preferably at least about 14%;
in a particularly preferred form of the invention, the towel includes at
least about 30% moisture-transporting polyester fibers. Because it is
desirable to make the pile from substantially all cotton fibers and the
pile typically forms a substantial part of the overall towel, the
moisture-transporting fibers generally comprise about 50% or less of the
overall towel construction.
Within the above-stated parameters, where the ground fabric is made from
less than substantially 100% moisture-transporting fibers, the remainder
of the fibers used to make up the ground fabric are preferably either
cotton, conventional polyester, or a combination thereof. It is
particularly preferred that all-cotton be used for the rest of the ground
fabric since, as noted above, the use of more than an insubstantial amount
of conventional polyester can have a negative impact on the absorptiveness
of the towel. Preferably, at least one of the ground fabric-forming yarn
sets (i.e., the warp or the weft) is made from substantially 100%
moisture-transporting polyester fibers. In a particularly preferred form
of the invention, both of the ground fabric-forming yarn sets are
substantially 100% moisture-transporting polyester fibers.
As described above, the moisture-transporting polyester yarns can form one
or both of the yarn sets forming the ground fabric. Where the
moisture-transporting yarns are provided in only one of the warp and weft
yarn sets, it is preferred that the moisture-transporting yarns form the
weft yarn set. Alternatively, the moisture-transporting yarns can form
both the warp and weft yarn sets.
EXAMPLES
Example 1
A towel according to the instant invention was manufactured as follows:
A terry loop (warp pile) fabric was woven using 12/1 Ne AKWATEK.RTM. yarns
to form the filling (i.e., weft), and 12/1 Ne cotton yarns to form the
warp, while 13.50/1 Ne cotton yarns were used to form pile loops on both
surfaces of the ground fabric using a terry pile ratio of 6.25. The
resulting fabric had a fiber content of 14% AKWATEK.RTM. and 86% cotton.
Example 2
A terry loop (warp pile) fabric was woven using 12/1 Ne AKWATEK.RTM. yarns
to form both the ground warp and filling, while 13.50/1 Ne cotton yarns
were used to form pile loops on both surfaces of the ground fabric using a
terry pile ratio of 6.25. The resulting fabric had a fiber content of 67%
cotton and 33% AKWATEK.RTM..
Example 3
A terry loop (warp pile) fabric was woven using 12/1 Ne AKWATEK.RTM. yarns
to form the ground warp and filling and pile loops on both surfaces of the
ground fabric in the same manner as described above with respect to
Examples 1 and 2. The resulting fabric thus had a fiber content of 100%
AKWATEK.RTM..
Control
A 100% cotton control sample was produced in the same manner as Examples
1-3 and tested for absorbency using a slightly modified version of ASTM
5504.
Each of the towels of Examples 1, 2 and 3, which used the various ratios of
AKWATEK.RTM. fibers to cotton fibers, was tested for moisture transport,
convection drying, ambient drying, and absorbency. The 100% cotton control
towel was also tested for the same parameters.
Moisture Transport
Moisture transport was measured as follows:
A 4".times.4" square of 100% cotton was weighed and the dry weight
recorded. The 4".times.4" cotton sample was then folded twice to yield a
2".times.2" dimension of material 4 layers thick. An 8".times.8" piece of
bathmat fabric was cut. The bathmat fabric was inserted onto a nailed
board. (It is noted that a plastic picture frame and 4 inch PVC ring
overlay could also be used.) 50 ml of water was then sprayed into the
center of the bathmat while the board was on a flat surface, and allowed
to sit for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, the cotton sample was placed onto
the center of the area where the water was applied, and covered by a 5 lb.
weight. The weight was allowed to sit for 5 minutes, then was removed and
the cotton sample weighed and the weight recorded.
Convection Drying
Convection Drying was measured as follows: Three 8".times.8" samples were
cut and the edges surged. The samples were conditioned overnight in the
area where testing was to occur. The samples were then weighed, and the
original weight recorded. The samples were then washed one time with soap
at 120.degree. F. Each sample was weighed as soon as it had finished being
washed and the weight was recorded. The samples were then placed in a
dryer, and drying was begun. The samples were removed from the dryer, one
at a time, every 2 minutes, and the weights recorded; the samples were
then returned to the dryer and the process repeated until the samples
reached 97.5% of their original weight.
Ambient Drying
Ambient Drying was measured as follows: Three (3) 8".times.8" samples were
cut, and the edges surged. The samples were conditioned overnight in the
area where testing was to take place. The samples were weighed, and the
original weights recorded. Five (5) grams of water in a beaker were
weighed, and a sample was submerged into the beaker, absorbing all of the
water. Each sample was weighed again, and the weight and time recorded.
The samples were then hung to air dry. For the first hour, the samples
were weighed and the time recorded in minutes/seconds every ten minutes.
For the next 30 minutes, the samples were weighed and time in
minutes/seconds was recorded every 5 minutes. The samples were then
weighed every 2 minutes, with the weight and time in minutes/seconds
recorded until the samples had reached 97.5% of their original weight.
Absorbency
The absorbencies of the samples from Examples 1-3 and the control were
measured using a modified version of the ASTM 5504 test method as follows:
500 ml of water were heated to 80.degree. F. An 8".times.8" square sample
of the material was weighed dry, and the weight recorded. The sample was
then placed at an angle 24 inches below a spray apparatus. The heated 500
ml of water was sprayed via the spray apparatus onto center of the sample.
The sample was removed, put between two pieces of blotting paper and the
top of the blotting paper was gently pressed or rolled across. The sample
was then weighed, and the weight recorded. The dry weight was then
subtracted from the wet weight and divided by the dry weight to get total
wet pickup.
Each of the towels was compared to the 100% cotton control sample to
determine the effect of the inclusion of the various amounts of
moisture-transporting polyester fibers on the absorbency, moisture
transport, convection drying, and ambient drying properties of the towels.
The results of the comparisons are listed below in Table I.
TABLE I
______________________________________
33%
AKWATER .RTM.
14% 67%
AKWATER .RTM.
Cotton
100% 86% (Example 100%
Cotton Cotton 1) AKWATER .RTM.
______________________________________
Moisture 11% 69% 73%
Transport %:
as compared
to cotton
control
Convection 25% 37% 50%
Drying %:
faster faster faster
tumble
drying time
as compared
to cotton
control
Ambient 16% 30% 37%
Drying %:
faster faster faster
air drying
time as
compared to
cotton
control
Absorbency
284% 272% 243% 119%
______________________________________
As illustrated above, the 100% cotton control towel had an absorbency of
284%. When the moisture transporting yarns were provided in the filling
(Example 1), the absorbency was affected to only a slight degree,
decreasing to 272%. However, the moisture transport percent was 11% higher
than that of the cotton control, ambient drying was 16% faster, and
convection drying was 25% faster. Thus, by using only about 14% of the
moisture-transporting fibers (and by using moisture-transporting yarns to
form only one of the ground yarn sets), a towel which can be convection
dried 25% faster than an all-cotton towel is achieved, with the towel
being only slightly less absorbent than the all-cotton counterpart.
Similarly, when the AKWATEK.RTM. yarns were used to form both the ground
warp and filling, the moisture transport percent increased dramatically
(to 69% higher than that of the all-cotton control), the convection drying
time was 37% faster, and the ambient drying time was 30% faster; this all
occurred with less than a 15% decrease in the absorbency from that of the
all-cotton towel.
For purposes of comparison, a 100% AKWATEK.RTM. towel was produced (i.e.,
see Example 3.) Although moisture transport percent was 73% higher than
that of the all-cotton towel, the moisture transport percent was only
slightly greater than that which was achieved by the towel having a 100%
AKWATEK.RTM. ground fabric and cotton pile (Ex. 2.) Further, although
convection and ambient drying occurred significantly faster than the
all-cotton and less-than-100% AKWATEK.RTM. towel constructions, the
absorbency dropped to 119% in the 100% AKWATEK.RTM. towel. Furthermore,
this towel lacked the "hand" of an all-cotton towel.
Thus, the most effective balance of absorptiveness and quick-drying was
achieved when the ground fabric contained a percentage of
moisture-transporting fibers and the pile was substantially all-cotton.
In the specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the
invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a
generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the
scope of the invention being defined in the claims.
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